Saanich backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Saanich?

Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

Yes. In Saanich you may keep up to five hens on a single-family or rural-zoned parcel between 557 m² and 1,114.8 m², if the flock is registered (free) and you live there. Roosters are not allowed in single-family zones. Bees and farm animals depend on lot size and zoning.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Yes. Up to five hens are allowed on a single-family residential or rural-zoned parcel between 557 m² (6,000 sq. ft.) and 1,114.8 m² (12,000 sq. ft.), if the flock is registered and the hen owner lives on the parcel. On parcels over 1,114.8 m² poultry (hens included) are allowed up to the limits in the bylaw table.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 38.1 to 38.3; Backyard Chickens, Backyard Chickens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep any poultry on any parcel of land having an area less than 1,114.8 a maximum of five hens are permitted on any parcel in a single the owner of the hens resides on the parcel where the hens are to be kept the area of the parcel is not less than 557 m2 (6,000 sq. ft.) Under specific regulations, backyard hens are permitted in the District of Saanich.
Most hens	Five hens on parcels of 557 to 1,114.8 m². Parcels over 1,114.8 m²: 10 poultry up to 1,858 m²; 30 up to 0.4 ha; no limit above 0.4 ha.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 38.2, 38.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording a maximum of five hens are permitted on any parcel a) 1,114.8 m2 - 1,858 m2 10 over 1,858 m2 - 0.4 ha 30 no limit
Roosters	No. Roosters (including bantam roosters) are not allowed in any single-family residential zone.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 40 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep or harbour any rooster or bantam rooster in any single family
Coop rules	For hens on lots under 1,114.8 m² in single-family zones: coop and run in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the rear and side lot lines and 3 m from any door or window of a residence; not over 2 m high; at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed run per hen; no more than 9.2 m² of land.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 38.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording is located at least 3 m from the rear lot line and side lot lines of the parcel is located at least 3 m from any door or window of a residential building is located in the rear yard of the parcel at least .37 m2 of coop floor area and at least .92 m2 of occupies an area of land not exceeding 9.2 m2 (99 sq. ft.)
Permit or registration	Registration with the District is required for hens on single-family residential parcels under 1,114.8 m². No fee. Download the Hen Registration Form and email it to planning@saanich.ca. Saanich also requires a BC Premises ID registration.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 38.6, 38.7; Backyard Chickens, Backyard Chickens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording There shall be no fee payable by the owner to the Municipality for the registration of a unless that person has registered that flock Download the Hen Registration Form and email your finished copy to planning@saanich.ca You are also required to apply for the BC Premises ID Registration of Livestock and Poultry Premises
Bees	Allowed on parcels in any A (agricultural) zone, and on RS-zoned lots only if the parcel is over 465 m² (5,005 sq. ft.). Maximum four hives on an RS lot. Hives must be at least 6.05 m (20 ft) from any property line unless inside a greenhouse.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 48.1, 48.2, 49 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording the parcel is located within any RS Zone and has an area greater than 465 m2 No person shall keep more than four hives on any parcel of land in any RS Zone within 6.05 metres (20 feet) of any property line
Other livestock	Farm animals (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine etc.): in an A zone only if the parcel is over 0.2 ha; in an RS zone only if over 0.65 ha, and no more than two; not allowed in RD, RC, RT, RM, RA, C, M and similar zones. Other poultry (ducks, geese, turkeys) only on parcels over 1,114.8 m². Rabbits must be in a secure enclosure.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 4, 38.1, 35.2.3; Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 1 definitions; Chicken FAQs · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording within any A Zone, unless the parcel has an area greater than .2 hectares within any RS Zone unless the parcel has an area greater than .65 hectares No owner or occupier of property shall keep a rabbit on the property except POULTRY means any bird normally raised for food or egg production Other types of poultry as defined in the Animals Bylaw are allowed only on property with an area larger than 1,114 m2
Bylaw	Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (hens: ss. 38 to 41). Zones are defined in the Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording ANIMALS BYLAW, 2004, NO. 8556

How it works

The Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (hens: ss. 38 to 41) sets the rules. Zones come from the Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200.

Hens. Up to five hens are allowed on a single-family residential or rural-zoned parcel between 557 m² (6,000 sq. ft.) and 1,114.8 m² (12,000 sq. ft.), if the flock is registered and the hen owner lives on the parcel. On parcels over 1,114.8 m² the limit counts all poultry: 10 up to 1,858 m²; 30 up to 0.4 ha; no limit above 0.4 ha. Roosters, including bantam roosters, are not allowed in any single-family residential zone.

Coop rules (lots under 1,114.8 m²): coop and run in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the rear and side lot lines and 3 m from any door or window of a residence; not over 2 m high; at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed run per hen. Also: no more than 3 m³ of manure in a closed container; eggs and meat not for sale; hens not slaughtered or buried on the parcel; feed in pest-proof containers.

Bees. Allowed in any A (agricultural) zone, and on RS-zoned lots only if the parcel is over 465 m² (5,005 sq. ft.), with at most four hives. Hives must be at least 6.05 m (20 ft) from any property line unless inside a greenhouse.

Other livestock. Farm animals: in an A zone only if the parcel is over 0.2 ha; in an RS zone only if over 0.65 ha and no more than two; not allowed in RD, RC, RT, RM, RA, C, M and similar zones. Other poultry (ducks, geese, turkeys) only on parcels over 1,114.8 m². Rabbits must be in a secure enclosure.

Steps

Download the Hen Registration Form from the Backyard Chickens page.
Email it to planning@saanich.ca. There is no fee.
Also register for a BC Premises ID, which Saanich requires.

Good to know

Saanich's Chicken FAQs say 5 chickens on lots over 557 m² and 10 over 1,114 m²; the bylaw counts all poultry. The bylaw is followed here.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · Victoria · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Backyard Chickens, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
Chicken FAQs, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.